Conveyer



R. PEALE CONVEYER Aug. 30, 1927.

Original Filed March 12, 1920 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 AT RNE R. PEALE CONVEYEROriginal Filed March 12, 192 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 v. E A m T. A

Patented Aug. 30, 1927.

UNITE? STATES RICHARD PEALE, or s r. BENEDICT, PENN Parent OFFICE.

@"SZLVANIA, ASSIGNOE, BY MESNE ASSIGN- IEZENTS, TO REMBRANDT PEALE, VI.SANDERS DAVIES, AND WILLIAM S. WALLACE,

TRUSTEES.

CONVEYER.

Original application filed March 12, 1920,

Divided and this application filed December 30, 1921.

The invention relates to a conveying mechanism, which in certainrespects is especially adapted or use in mining work.

Objects and advantages of the invention will be further set forth inpart hereinafter, and in part will be obvious heretrom, or may belearned by practice with the invention, the same being realized andattained through the instrumentalities and pointed out in the appendedclaims.

Theinvention consists in the novel parts, constructions, arrangements,combinations and improvements herein shown and described.

The accompanying drawings, reterred to herein and constituting a parthereof, illustrate one embodiment of the invention, and together withthe description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

of the drawings Fig. 1 is a top plan ct one embodiec form of theinvention, wherein the machine is provided with motive power additionalto the conveyer 2 is a side elevation of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section taken on the line3--8 of Fig. 1;

Fig. l is an enlarge l, fragmentary vertical section, taken on line.4iof Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary elevation of the right hand end of 2with a part ot the gear casing cut away to showv the gears and clutcheswithin;

6 is an enlarged fragmentary top plan corresponding to Fig 5, andshowing the drlving connect-ions with the top casing removed;

Fig. 7 is plan of the showing the rollers from Fig. 8 is an enlarged online 88 of Fig. 6.

This application is a division of an application which has matured intoPatent No. 1333,906, granted Oct. 31, 1922.

object of the invention is tious and economical conveyance away from theworking face of entries or headings, rooms, and other working facesot-mines, ot' dislodged coal. With this main object an enlargedfragmentary top upper right corner of Fig. l, oppositev ends of theshafts and those shown in Fig. 6; and

fragmentary section combinations tion at this point. It

the QXPGCllfeatures 0t the invention are Y Serial No. 365,208, PatentNo. 1,433,906, dated October 31, 1922.

Serial No. 525,832.

in view, the invention provides a conveyer or conveying means, which inaccordance with certain features of the invention is automotived, and iscapacitated to runor travel into a bottom kert or undercutting prior tothe shooting-down or other dislodgment of the coal and is alsocapacitated for loading and conveying away dislodged coal lying upon themine bottom, that is, which has been shot down or otherwise dislodgedwithout preliminarily placing the conveyor therebeneath. In connectionwith the foregoing, there is provided a plurality of attachable anddetachabletrucks or buggies adapted in succession to be attached to theconveying machine in order to receive a load or filling of coaltherefrom, then to be detached or pushed away to a place of discharge,another truck or buggy coming into operation of the conveyer being thusmaintained or preserved in continuity.

One feature of the invention consists in the endless conveyer belt beingca'pacitated to constitute not only the conveying means for the coal orother loose material, but also the auto-motive means of the conveyermechanism. 7 3 Q In accordance with one feature of the invention anendless conveyer is provided adapted to operate by engagement with thefloor or ground as a traveling or conveying means for the entiremachine, or to operate as a conveyer when the machine is at rest. Theinventi on has also in view auto-motive means for quickly and easilyturning and inaneuverlng the machine within small compass, and alsoprovides means for controlling independently of each other the starting,stopping and direction of motion of the conveyer and the separateauto-motive devices. I

Other objects and features of the invention other than those referred toabove will appear hereinafter without particular menwill be understoodalso that certain adapted for useindependently from other features withwhich they are herein shown and described as in cooperationor combination, and other features or" the invention which are separately shownherein may be 'less conveyor belt are provided. tlhereby the machine maybe traveled and the conveyor belt snnultaneously run each independentlyvot the direction oi the other.

' With such independent auto-motive means,

the machine is able to turn and maneuver easily and quickly, and Withina very small area or radius, and is especially capacitated for attackingand conveying away piles of loose material resting upon the floor.

Tl'iat is, the machine is capacitated to be' run into the under-cuttingand to receive the falling coal thereon, or to attacks pl; of coalresting on the floor or bottom. Means are pro ided in connection Withthe foregoing for controlling the moven'ient of,

and for starting and stopping andrevei .g the direction of movement ofboth the con vever and the traction or automotive means eachindependently of the others.

Referring now more indetail to the cinbc-died form, the endless conveyer8 supported. in the machine in any suitable inanner. As shown it runsbetween the tically iii-ejecting side frames or plates 9 and 1.0. [flitits forward end it is shown ninuini over idle rollers l2, mounted on ashaft 1.). The endless convcyer is supported or backed on plates atextending from the side frames, and upon one or more longitudinally er;-tending strips liland let, supported on the frame, 011S1l1 p017t 11being shown, embracing shaft 15 in i s 1 and 3. The conveyor passes overelements 4, and of the t ame, and under elements 5 and l l thereof. Theconveyer is shown conventionally, and may be of ny suitable form such asthat shown in the Patent 1, 3,998 mentioned above.

The traction orautomotive means as embodied constitute two endlesstraction treads and 81 at either side of the endless conve er 8, theconveyer and each of the treads, respectively, having its own drivingconnections motion and direction controlling devices, all operable bytl'ieattendant oi the machine.

in the embodied form thereof (see especially Fig- 6, and also 1 to 8), amotor 82 is suitably mounted on the machine frame, and has a bevel gear88 lined upon its shalt. Loosely journaled on a shatv 84%, mounted inthe machine frame, are two bevel gears 85 and 86, which mesa With theWar Wheel 83 on opposite sides thereof, so

to be driven there-bi in opposite CllEGC- tions. These serve to driveboth the treads and the conveyer. Means are provided for driving shaft8& in either direction, and as my 1. 1, i 4 emoociee a crutch member at1S sonnet. on the hub 91 of a gear wheel 92, which hub similar and theforegoing description Will suiiice therefor. Thus When clutch 87 ismover. into engagement With bevel gear 8 5,

gear Wheel 92 is driven in the same direction as bevel gear 85.

A similar construction is provider. in connection with bevel gear 86 anda gear Wheel 96. That is, a clutch member 93 is splined n the hub 95 ofa gear Wheel 96, the hub being sleeved loose on shaft 8%. Clutch member.13 is movable into and out of engagement with thehub of bevel gear 86.An actuatin lever like lever 88, is provided for throwing the clutchmember 93 in and out. 'lhus when clutcl member 93 is moved intoengagement with bevel gear 86', gear Wheel 96 will be driven in theopposite direction from that in which Wheel 99 will be driven throughclutch 87. I

'l heendless conveyor 8 is preferablydriven from one end thereof, andmay have a An actuating handle or lever-'88 is provided therefor (Figs.1, 6 and S) surtine drive and driving connections the s me or similar tothose already shown and described, although a plain conveyor and driv;

ing and guiding rollers are shoavn in Figs. 6 and 7 tor the sake ofclearness and simplicity. The driving means, shown here 0n the oppositeside a gear Wheel" 103' is loose on shaft 99 and is'in mesh with wheel96. A clutch neinber 104 is splined on shaft 99 and is movable into andout of engagement with the hub 01' gear Wheel 108. A lever 105 operatesclutch member 104 (Figs. 1 and 6). I

l Vrth the roregorug-described mechanism, by alternatively throwing inclutch 87 or 93, the motor will either drive gear Wheel 92 in onedirection or gear wheel 96 in the opposite direction. Through thealternative operation of clutches 101 or veyer 8 tion or the other, asdesired, and when both I 10%, the conmay be driven in either oneCilfclutches 101 and 104 areout, the conveyor 8 is at rest, whethereither clutch or 93 is in or whether they are both out. This providesmeans for running the conveyer in either direction, or for keeping it atrest while the 'motor is driving the traction 'treads at rest, and tooperate the treads as just described either with or independently of theoperation of the endless conveyer 8.

In the embodied form, and referring irst to the construction of thetreads themselves as here embodied, the tread 80 and 81 comprise platesor treads proper 110,1unning on plates or supports 111, formed in theside frames 1, 2 and 112 ofthe machine. The plates are connectedtogether in suitable mann =3, as by one or more endless cables 113,which are faste ed to the plates by suitable means such clamping platesl olted to the inside of ti e plates 110. ach end the endless belttreads run ively over sprocket wheels 114, the 15 of which engage withdepressions rmed in the innerside ot the plates "he sprocket wheels areshown in ig. 4 formed double at each endof each of the treads. At oneend of the machine, the sprocket wheels 114 are preferably orconveniently idler-s, and those at the oppo site end of the machine aredriven.

In the embodied form of drive for the belt tread, having the functionsand ties described in a preceding paraaph, a shaft loosely jeurnaled ina b of one of the pair of sprocket *heels l the hub 121 journal for thesprocket wheel 1'14'in the frame 1. fastened to the sprocket wheel andhas a bearing the frame'plate, 112' at the opposite side.

On the hub 114 (shown 1 member 123 ant the cooperating clutch n'iembersplined on shaft 120 to turn therewith ynile being 1 f the sprocketwheel .slidable tnerealong into and out of engagement with clutch member123. The opposite end of shaft 120 1 has the sprocket wheel 114 at theopposr'e side of the machine fixed thereto, aft being gournaled in themachine is iournaled in the machine (i n s. i c 21 0 -3 name li s. 0 and4) mile being eng tudinally has hxedthereto a gear, wheel which, asshaft'128 moved longitudinally, passes into and out ofmesn with agearwheelltll, which is A stub shaft 122 is within andis.

is formed one clutch lable. On one side, shaft 128 fiXedon-shaft 120. Atits 0 'osi te' end, shaft 128 is journaled in the machine frame and in abracket 132. Fixed on shaft 128-is a gear wheel 133 which passes intoand out of engagement with gear wheel 100, as shaft 128 is movedlongitudinally.

The control for clutch 123, 124, as embodied, is operated from shaft128. A sle-ve 135 is tiz-iel between collars 136 and 137 on shaft 1286), and fixed to sleeve 135 is an arm 138 terminating in a yoke 139,which yoke straddles and engages with an annular groove 140 formed inclutch member 124. Thus as shaft 128, is moved longitudinally in onedirection or the other, clutch 123, 124 is thrown in or out.

Shaft 128 is longitudinally moved to and fro by suitable means, and forthis purpose, the'hub of gear wheel 133 is ,annularly grooved, and anoperating lever 140 is con nected thereto-to so move the shaft.

Supported in the machine frame (Fig. 6} a stub shaft 141, and looselyjournaled thereon is a wheel 142, the hub thereof having an annulargroove'143formed therein, ashifting lever 144 cooperating therewith. Agear wheel 145 is fixed on the exterior end of shaft 122. v By means oflever 14-4, gear wheel 142 is moved into and out of mesh with. both gearwheel 103 and gea wheel 145, actingv when in mesh as an idler orintern'iediate therebetween, and making a through or continuous drivefrom gear wheel 96 to gear wheel 145.

Referring now to the operation of the shown and described mechanism:

spectively, of clutches 87 and 93'; alsothat the conveyer drive mayoptionally remain at rest or be driven in either direction from thegears 100 and 103, respectively, by means of clutches101 and 104. Thefour clutches just referred to are operated by their respective levers88, 94, 102 and 105. i

Vhen gear wheel 133 is thrown into mesh with gearwheel 100 by actuatinglever 140, gear wheel 130 is also thrown into mesh with gear wheel 131.

The manner of operation of the foregoing is substantially as follows Totravel the machine forward:

'W hen gear wheel 142 is in mesh with wheels 103 and 145, and clutch 124is in mesh, the machine will travel forwardly or backwardly dependent onthe direction of rota ion of the motor. That is, with the connections asdescribed, by running the motor in one direction or the other, themachine may berun either forward or backward as desired. If it isdesired to run the conveyer when the'machine is traveling forward, as inattackingfa pile of coal resting on the minebottom, this may be-done-bythrowing in clutch 101 or clutch 10 1, depending on the direction ofrotation of the motor. 7

To turn the machine by operating the caterpillar treads in oppositedirections Vv hen gear wheels 133 and 130 are in mesh and clutch 124 isopen and at the same time gear 14-2 is in mesh, the endless belt treadswill travel in opposite directions and turn the machine. By reversingthe motor the 1 treads may be operated in the opposite direcl tread 80is at rest.

out, and gear 1 12 is moved into mesh with gears 1&5 and 108, and clutch93 is thrown in, tread 80 Wlll be driven in either direction, dependenton the direction of rotation of the motor, while tread 81 is at rest.

Various other combinations including changesin the direction of drive orstate of rest or motion of the conveyer and of the treads are possibleand available, but need i not be described in detail.

For the purpose of cap-acitatin the machine for efficiently handlingcoal or other material lying loose on the floor or ground, the forwardend of the frame is provided with an apron or plate 150, inclined npwardly from the floor at its forward end to the level of the conveyer atits rear or inner end. The side plates 9 and 10 cooperate therewith toguide the material, as best shown in, Fig. 2. The traction treads candrive the machine forward while the'conveyer at the same time is movingto convey the coal back, and the machine can be wheeled or hacked, ortraveled'in any direc tion, with the conveyer moving or at rest, asdesired. The side plates 9 and 10 will retain the coal from spillingsidewise. A car for receiving the coal is shown conventionally at 151 inFig. 2, which may be attached during the loading operation to the frameby any suitable means, and may stand for any convenient means forreceiving Or disposing of the coal.

The invention is not limited to the precise forms of construction hereinshown and described, but changes may be made therein without departingfrom the principles of the invention,

What I claim is 1. A coal handling-machine for use in narrow coal seams,including in combination, a low flat frame, an endless conveyer passingover and under the frame, endless traction treads alongside the frameand substantially coextensive longitudinally with means at the forwardend of the machine for V directing loose material to the conveyer.

3. A coal handling machine,.compr1sing a low fiat frame, an endlessconveyer carried thereby, endless belt drives alongside said conveyerand substantially COQXlJGIlSlVGlOIl;

gitudinally therewith, the upper and lower reaches of the said conveyerand'belts being on substantially the same level, respectively,

a scoop at the front end of the machine for directing material onto theconveyer, and means for driving the said belts.

l. A coal handling machine, comprising a low flat frame, an endlessconveyer carried thereby, endless belt drives at either'side of saidconveyer and substantially coextensive longitudinally therewith, andmeans for driving the said belts forwardly or backwardly, independentlyof each other; 7

A coal handling machine, comprising a low iat frame, an endless conveyercar ried thereby, endless belt drives alongside said conveyer andsubstantially coextensiv longitudinally therewith, the upper and lowerreaches of the said conveyer and belts being on substantially" the samelevel, re-' spectively, scoop at the front end of the machine fordirecting material'onto the conveyer, and means for separately drivingthe conveyer and the belts.

6. A coal handling machine, comprising a low fiat frame, an endlessconveyer carried thereby, endless belt drives alongside said conveyerand substantially coextensive longitudinally therewith, the upper andlower reaches of the said conveyer and belts being on substantially thesame level, respectively,

scoop at the front end ofthe machine for directing material onto theconveyer, means for driving the conveyer, and means for independentlydriving the said belts.

7. A coal handling machine, comprising a low flat frame, an endlessconveyer carried thereby, endless belt drives alongside said conveyerand substantially coextensivelon gitudinally therewith, the upper andlower 7 reaches of the said conveyer and belts being on substantiallythe same level,respectivel means for driving the conveyer, and means forindependently driving the saidhbelts forwardly or backwardly.

8. A coal handling machine including in combination a low, flat framehavinglongitudinally extending, channeled frame sle ments, endlesstraction belts located in the channels of the frame elements, an endlessconveyer arranged between said frame elements, and means for driving thetraction belts and the conveyer.

9. A coal handling machine including in combination a low, flat framehaving longitudinally extending, channeled frame elements, endlesstraction belts located in the channels of the frame elements, an endlessconveyer arranged between said frame elements, the upper reaches of thetraction belts and the conveyer and the upper elements of the frame,being on substantially the same level, the corresponding lower partsofthese'members being similarly located at a lower level, and means fordriving the traction belts and the conveyer.

10. A coal handling machine including in combination a low, fiat framehaving longi- 7 tudinally extending, channeled frame elements, endlesstraction belts located in the channels of the frame elements, an endlessconveyer arranged between said frame elements, a scoop at one end of theframe for guiding coal onto the conveyer, and means for driving thetraction belts and the con-- veyer.

11. A coal handling machine including in combination a low, flat framehaving longitudinally extending, channeled frame elements, endlesstraction belts located in the channels of the frame elements, an endlessconveyer arranged between said frame elements, and means for driving thetraction belts and the conveyer in either direction.

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12. A coal handling machine including in combination a low, flat framehaving longitudinally extending, channeled frame elements, endlesstraction belts located in the channels of the frame elements, an endlessconveyer arranged between said frame elements, and means for driving thetraction belts and the conveyer forwardly or backwardly independently.

13. A coal handling machine including in combination a low, flat frame,endless traction treads at each side of the frame for located betweenthe traction treads and substantially coextensive longitudinally thereiwith, the upper and lower reaches of the three endless elements being onsubstantially the same levels, respectively, means for driv-' ingtheconveyer, a scoop at the front end of the frame for guiding materialonto the conveyer, and means for independently driving the tractiontreads in either direction.

15. A coal handling-machine having a low, thin, fiat frame, close to thefloor throughout, an endless belt conveyor filling substantially theentire space within the frame both crosswise and lengthwise, an

endless traction tread arranged closely along each side of the frame andsupporting it just clear of the mine floor, and means for selectivelydriving the endless treads in either direction.

16. A coal handling-machine having a low, thin, flat frame, close to thefloor n substantially the entire space within the, frame both crosswiseand lengthwise, an

endless traction'tread arranged closely along each side of the frame andsupportingit just clear of the mine floor, means for selectively drivingthe endless treads in either direction, and an apron at the front of theconveyer extending substantially from the floor upwardly and rearwardlyto the forward end of the top reachof the conveyer.

18. A coal handling machine having a low, thin, flat frame, close to thefloor throughout, an endless belt conveyer filling substantially theentire space within the frame both crosswise and lengthwise, an endlesstraction tread, substantially coextensive longitudinally with saidendless belt conveyer, arranged closely along each side of the frame andsupporting itjust clear of the mine floor, a motor for driving thetreads, located at the rear of the conveyor unit, and means forselectively coupling the treads with the motor for driving them ineither direction.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

RICHARD PEALE.

